Responding to some user trade associations who have expressed concern about the possible waiver the vocation for container traffic at the Darsena Terminal of the port of Livorno after the recent acquisition of the management of the berth by the Grimaldi shipping group ( of 31 January 2024), the Chairman of the System Authority Port of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Luciano Guerrieri, confirmed that the terminal must maintain its vocation commodity.

This morning, at the meeting of the Sea Resource Partnership, Guerrieri specified that with the The new manager of the Darsena Toscana Terminal has been developed «A constant and structured dialogue to address the priorities of the port and set some stakes, with the goal of achieving shareable targets. Although none wish to challenge the concessionaire's right to combine the container handling that of secondary activities - The president of the Port Authority pointed out - there is no doubt that TDT should keep its vocation intact commodity'. Referring to the Platform project Europe which will offer new areas and quays to the traffic of containers, Guerrieri highlighted the need to ensure a planned development of the port in view of the construction of the Darsena Europa which, he stressed, is "a firm in the growth plans of the port of call". A work of art - He added - "It cannot be questioned, for of the benefits that this type of traffic brings to the territory and to the national ports'.

Specifying that he had received from the Grimaldi group "more than reassurances in this regard," Guerrieri said whereas 'it is now a matter of moving from words to deeds' and explained that the new business plan that the company is to present to the Port System Authority will be the common thread along which to articulate the terms of the Collaboration between the Port Authority and the company "We expect," he clarified, "that in the document, tangible, concrete commitments are made in the direction of not only the preservation of the primary vocation of the terminals, but that development plans geared towards encourage a real growth in containerised traffic'.

"We are all aware," the president continued of the PSA - the particular geopolitical situation, how this is also impacting national ports. And it's reasonable assume that due to a decrease in container traffic, some spaces available at the Darsena Toscana Terminal are put to good use in another way, perhaps by providing for the possibility of to accommodate, at this stage, new cars. Ro-ro traffic is one of the core businesses of the port of Livorno and we have everything the interest in making sure that it grows and develops." It is However, it is necessary, he pointed out, "that the policy of the terminal addresses additional traffic and not the acquisition of trafficking already carried out by other parties, because only In this way, growth opportunities can develop for the whole port'.

"We have asked the company for the new enterprise. We are waiting for it and - concluded Guerrieri - rest assured, It will be our concern to ensure that it is fully consistent with the regulatory requirements defined in the Plan Port Regulator and in the Three-Year Operational Plan, of which it is The update is now imminent." The same concept is was reiterated by Guerrieri during a meeting with a Delegation of port workers gathered in front of Palazzo Rosciano to express their fears about the consequences of the "move" at the Darsena Toscana Terminal of the traffic of the UECC, specialized in the transport of motor vehicles, could have on the balance of the port: "It's important underline - said Guerrieri - that the workers of the port they are all the same and that work finds its full and legitimate protection only in a collaborative and positive framework of relations entrepreneurial and commercial. We will fight to defend this concept'.